Dodd Offers Plans For Affordable College

Tuition, Student Loan Aid Proposed

August 08, 2007|By ROBERT A. FRAHM; Courant Staff Writer

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd will outline a plan today designed to make college more affordable, including a proposal that would provide a free education to students attending two-year community colleges.

Dodd, who also will call for efforts to reduce the cost of student loans, is expected to introduce the plan during a stop at the New Hampshire Community Technical College in Manchester, N.H., as part of his presidential campaign.

The proposal is designed to ``guarantee that no American is ever denied a college education because of cost,'' said a press release issued by the Connecticut Democrat's campaign organization.

A key element of the proposal is Dodd's call for a federal tuition subsidy that would allow states to provide a free education at public community colleges. Annual tuition and fees at public community colleges last fall averaged $2,272 nationwide, according to the College Board. In Connecticut, tuition and fees were $2,672.

Dodd's proposal drew praise from George R. Boggs, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed making that state's community colleges tuition-free, ``but right now no state has a free community college system,'' Boggs said.

The Dodd plan also would tighten rules on student loans. The student lending industry came under intense scrutiny this year after investigations in New York and elsewhere of conflicts of interest and questionable lending practices.

Dodd, who is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, recommends requiring banks to compete in a federally run auction to offer federal loans -- a step designed to increase competition and reduce interest rates. He called for new protections on private student loans to ``prevent unfair and deceptive private lending practices.''

In addition, Dodd will call for a $100 increase each year in the Pell Grant, the federal government's main form of aid for needy students. The current maximum Pell Grant is $4,310.

Another recommendation would put a spotlight on colleges that make what Dodd called unreasonable tuition increases. Dodd recommends publishing an annual tuition inflation index along with a list of colleges whose tuition increases exceed the index.